Hold Your Tongue: Senate OK's Indecency Bill

Hold that fleeting obscenity--that might deserve a fine levied against broadcasters after all.

A Senate Commerce Committee voted on a bill on Friday that would reinstate the FCC's authority in fining broadcasters for "fleeting" foul language. The FCC recently changed its definition of fleeting obscenities, deciding a certain "f word" can be so vile it is subject to indecency laws.

But last month, a federal appeals court tossed out the new FCC regulation, saying the regulatory commission failed to offer a good reason. The fleeting obscenity rules change was driven by a couple of occurrences--Cher and Nicole Richie's remarks in two separate Fox's Billboard Music Awards shows.

In 2002, Cher said: "People have been telling me I'm on the way out every year. So fuck 'em." In 2003, Richie said: "Have you ever tried to get cow shit out of a Prada purse? It's not so fucking simple."

Then in 2004, after U2's Bono remarked on the Golden Globe Awards that winning an award was "really, really fucking brilliant," the FCC changed its rules on indecency--saying that fleeting remarks deserve a fine.

The committee approved the bill without dissent in just a few minutes. Now the legislation moves to the Senate floor.

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